So I couldn’t find clear answers to this question and I’m sure some of you must have experience with this. Over the last days… It hit me, I need to insure my collection. Although I have a safe and our house has a lot of cameras and a great security system, life happens and I want to be prepared.
1. Do any of you have your collections insured?
2. Any recommendations or experiences with the company you have the policy with?
Thanks guys!
Sorry if this has been discussed before just couldn’t find anything specific.
You can’t be home 24/7 you gotta eat lol and most people who own safes don’t bolt them down which is the number one way thieves are able to get into your safe they break it open some place else. On a note about safes most of the commerical safes are junk they can be pried open by two to three men in under 5 minutes. When thinking about choosing a safe you want the tighest space between the body and door so a pry bar can’t fit in between the space the larger the space the weaker the safe.
I own a pretty serious heavy duty gun safe I got from cabelas for 1100 dollars. and a home alarm system. this is good security. you can also have your collection claimed on your home owners insurance… not so sure about renters insurance if you live in an apartment tho. I’d call and ask about this if you live in an apartment. I also protect my cards with lots of guns. Noone messes with a 12 gauge or an ar15 lol
Don’t forget dogs as a deterrent, they work wonders thief’s want easy, adding layers to security is always good. This website makes custom safes much better than anything you can get at a sporting good store/gun shop www.sturdysafe.com/ they even have vault doors for the high end collector lol. Speaking about guns can be tricky depending on which state you live in, certain states you kill somebody who was trying to steal your collection you’ll get to spend some time in jail depending on your state/local laws for use of lethal force.
I live in the state of Washington. someone breaks in chances are they will leave my home in a bodybag bro. I don’t fuck around. especially with a 4 year old in the house. protection of family and cards is more important than a robbers life to me.
There are collectors insurance companies in the US, I used to get e-mails for insurance from one of them, for my comic collection. I would suggest checking out a sports card forum if you don’t get any specific answers here. I would assume Pokemon cards would be closer to sports cards than comics for insurance companies.
I used a safety deposit box for my high end comics. The rest I just kept at home uninsured. Get the bonus of a bank vault being climate controlled without jacking up your electricity bill.
I’m looking into getting my collection insured as well, as it’s starting to gain value with recent additions. Having well over $1000 worth of shiny cardboard in my college dorm room might not be the safest thing ever. I mean, I’m on the 4th floor with no elevator (most inconvenient floor of all time), but still… I haven’t organized an agreement with a company, so I apologize if my post isn’t any help, but I’m very interested in the process and will be checking back with this thread often.
I remember visiting a booth at Wizard World Chicago a few years back and talked with a company briefly about getting my collection insured. If I remember correctly, it was this company: collectinsure.com/
They insure collectables like sports cards, toys, etc, so I wouldn’t see why they would not ensure Pokemon cards. If I take the steps to insure my collection this summer I’ll let you know how the process goes!
I might look into a fireproof safe in the future more for disasters than robbery. Fire is a lot scarier than robbery in my opinion. Also, little 'ol timid me defending my collection with fire arms? Thing would go very very wrong very very quickly. Pokesoap + Guns = Freaked out Pokesoap. Remind me to never come after your collections!
I have no problem with robbers being killed who use weapons in order to obtain valuables, but somebody who is smashing and grabbing probably doesn’t deserve to be pumped full of lead in what ever caliber you like. I probably would have a hard time shooting somebody in the back running off with my tv or card collection I know for sure in my state I would be spending time in a federal prison.
If you keep your collection in your house, you can get various discounts for having added layers of security. For instance and as mentioned above: security cameras, safe, fence (yes a fence), alarm system, etc. Your collection can fall under your homeowners insurance policy. I would recommend double-checking although “items in the house” is a pretty straightforward process. Having the documentation of what you own is the important part.
I used to keep cards in my house and that’s how they were insured.
I just want my own home, 2 acres or so of land, and my own alligator rescue all around my home. I mean, who is going to try to cross an alligator moat to break in? Try to rob me, and you just become lunch for my gators.
If I was wealthy enough — I would actually do this as I love gators and working with animals.
I was thinking no where but florida would you want alligators as pets to defend your home, is it the weather or water that makes people have grandiose ideas lol.
Most home insurance policies have a huge overall amount of insurance for “contents” but they break them down with individual limits on each. Low individual limits on precious metals, collectibles and cash, so if you have high $$$ amounts on any of them, be sure to give them a call and talk them through what you have. In many cases they can throw on a rider for special collectibles for an annual cost of about 0.5%-2% of insured value.
I see a lot of talk of safes. Most people don’t have safes. Even the $1100 Cabelas one mentioned above that I have a similar one like this:
Really it only classifies as a “residential security container” because all it has is 12 gauge steel around double layered drywall. Great for fire protection and your typical low life smash and grabber, but anyone that comes prepared knowing what is inside with some small hand tools can be in within 15 minutes after watching a few youtube videos, less if they have a buddy.
Anyone calling one of these a safe:
Needs to start referring to it properly for what it is. A burglar convenience box.
I have 5 people in my home, 4 with concealed carry permits. Two have won state tournament trophies. No, we are not rednecks. We are enthusiasts.
But still, most my auction and collection cards are stored safely elsewhere (see below)
Still, I have a wife and a two year old in the house and I assure you, they are as safe as can be.
Some of you should try a nice big safe in a storage locker with 24 hour surveillance that’s located close by. Plus I keep a simple camera inside that rings my phone when there’s movement. I’ve used this system for years. Plus I can store other stuff in there.
This makes me feel very safe both at home and in my lockers.
Move to Iowa, buy 10 acres of land and build a moat around your property. Have a guard tower and you will be able to see 20 miles each way. Build a castle and you shouldn’t have to worry about fires. Then carry castleowner insurance and make sure it covers your collection.
All jokes aside, I guess my biggest concern was fire. Like I’ve said before, we have a great security system, we have a Doberman Pinscher in the house so I know it will be nearly impossible for anyone to enter and be able to leave lol.
The number one problem is that people don’t bolt down their safes when they get one, even if you safe weights 1k plus nothing three beefy men and a specialized hand truck can’t handle if its not bolted down.
Thats good you have multiple people at your home so if your not home somebody is most likely there, and knowledgable with firearms is good plus fun lol.
